Protecting Your Home

WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING THIS WEEKEND...AND THAT MEANS LOTS OF EMPTY HOMES. AND OFFICERS SAY THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN A FEW HUNDRED BURGLARIES ACROSS THE AREA THIS SEASON. NEWS 12 IS ON YOUR SIDE WITH WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR HOME WHILE YOU'RE OUT OF TOWN.

LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE LEAVING TOWN, AND JOE ARCURI FEELS BETTER KNOWING THAT THE POLICE WILL BE LOOKING OUT FOR HIS HOUSE WHILE HE AND HIS WIFE ARE AWAY.

"It is concerning that no matter where you live there's always the possibility of people breaking in." Arcuri said.

ONE CALL TO THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND DEPUTIES LIKE BILL WOOD WILL DRIVE OUT TO YOUR HOUSE SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.

"We check the doors and windows to make sure everything is secure and in place and the way it should be." Said Deputy Wood.

"It gives us an advantage to let people see deputies driving by." Said Joe Arcuri.

EACH DEPUTY GETS A LIST OF CLOSE TO THIRTY PEOPLE TO LOOK.

"They'll maybe leave a door unlocked or unsecure and we're able to secure it." Said Deputy Wood.

AND SOMETIMES THEY GET SOMEONE BREAKING IN.

If you come home early, you should call and let the police department know you're there."

"Something's going on inside and we'll get a couple of deputies out there and then we figure out it's just the homeowners." Said Deputy Wood.

EACH PERSON IN THE PROGRAM GETS A PASSWORD THEY GIVE POLICE AS SOON AS THEY GET BACK.

"That's just the way things are these days and we have to do everything we can to be proactive to stop it."

PEOPLE LIKE JOE CAN FEEL A LITTLE BETTER LEAVING THEIR HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

IF YOU WANT POLICE TO LOOK OUT FOR YOUR HOME WHILE YOU'RE AWAY, YOU CAN CALL RICHMOND COUNTY AT 821-1080, COLUMBIA COUNTY AT 541-1043, AND AIKEN COUNTY AT 803-648-6811

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